About Picudas
Picudas is a vibrant reef dive site located within the protected waters of the Puerto Morelos National Park in Mexico, nestled between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. This site is part of the extensive Mesoamerican Reef System, often referred to as the Great Maya Reef, which stretches from the Yucatán Peninsula down to Honduras. As a shallow reef, Picudas allows divers to enjoy its rich coral formations and diverse fish life in brighter conditions. It is typically offered as a second, shallower dive following a deeper wreck dive in the area. This makes it an excellent choice for extending bottom time and experiencing a different facet of the local marine environment. While specific details on marine life at Picudas are not explicitly detailed, the Puerto Morelos reef generally hosts a wide variety of corals, turtles, lobsters, rays, and local fish, including nurse and bull sharks. During winter months, large families of eagle rays migrate to the region, offering spectacular encounters. Picudas is accessible to a broad range of divers due to its shallow depths. It is commonly part of a two-dive excursion from dive shops in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun. The typical schedule involves an early departure, a deep wreck dive, followed by a shallow reef dive like Picudas, with a snack break between sites.
Highlights
Mesoamerican Reef SystemPuerto Morelos National ParkShallow coral formationsVaried reef fish speciesOccasional eagle ray sightingsAbundant soft corals
Season calendar
Best months to dive here
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Nov – Apr (Peak)
Socorro season open (Nov–May) for giant mantas and hammerheads. Cozumel bull sharks Dec–Mar. Cenotes excellent year-round. Best overall conditions.
May – Oct (Transition & Sea of Cortez)
Socorro closing, Cozumel still good. Whale sharks arrive at Isla Mujeres Jun–Sep. From August, the Sea of Cortez comes alive: Midriff Islands offer massive sea lion colonies and schooling mobulas. September and October bring world-class diving around La Paz and Cabo Pulmo with whale sharks, hammerheads, and bull sharks on the Explore Baja route.
Dive site facts: Picudas
- Depth
- 2–7 m
- Current
- Mild
- Entry
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Level
- Beginner
- Dive type
- Reef, Reef
- Region / port
- Mexico
- Coordinates
- 20.8299° N, 86.8710° W
Conditions & Currents
While specific current information for Picudas itself is not detailed, the deeper wreck dive often paired with Picudas has mild currents. As a shallow reef site within a protected national park, it is generally considered suitable for less experienced divers. Visibility is typically good on these reef sites. Entry is usually from a boat, as is common for organized dive trips in the region. The shallow nature of the dive site allows for relaxed, longer bottom times, contributing to a less strenuous dive experience.
Why dive Picudas from a liveaboard?
Picudas is one of Mexico's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include Picudas on their Mexico itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Picudas
These liveaboards may visit Picudas on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
Nautilus Explorer
Mexico
25 guests45 m
Valentina
Mexico
20 guests38 m
Rocio del Mar
Mexico
20 guests34 m
Nautilus Under Sea
Mexico
19 guests32 m
Nautilus Belle Amie
Mexico
32 guests45 m
Quino del Mar
Mexico
20 guests36 m
Nautilus Gallant Lady
Mexico
12 guests35 m
Dive sites similar to Picudas
Same character, same waters — six more sites divers love for the exact same reasons.Compare seasons, access and liveaboard routes — then pick the site that fits your trip best.
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
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3 Fathom Wall is an exciting and fish-filled dive site located in the Cayman Islands, specifically at the intersection of the renowned Bloody Bay Wall.
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While specific details for a dive site named "3 Riff" are not present in the provided sources, general diving conditions and characteristics for the Dominican Republic…
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4 Amigos is a notable dive site located in the Bay Islands of Honduras, an area renowned for its extensive Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is the world's second-longest.
- Suitable for
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- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
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© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
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The dive site known as "6 Toed Cat" is not a recognized dive location in Mexico; rather, it refers to the polydactyl felines, many with six toes, that inhabit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida.
- Suitable for
- Beginner
- Current
- Mild
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- —
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© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
Aaron's Backyard
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Aaron's Backyard is a noted dive site within the Roatan Marine Park in Honduras, part of the extensive Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.
- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 9–40 m
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